T-Ball

John has started playing T-ball this year and he has to be the cutest little player on the field.  Somehow I got roped into coaching his team so that has been quite the adventure.  I have been having so much fun being able to help all the little ones and they do some of the funniest things.  John is really starting to get the hang of fielding the ball and he can hit it all the way into the outfield.  He's my little t-ball stud!

John getting ready to hit the ball.

Go Johnny, Go!!

Happy Easter

I'm a little late posting about Easter, but things have been busy, busy around here.  We had a wonderful time at Easter.  Barking Papa and Grandma Barbara joined us this year and the kids were so excited!  We had a great time hunting Easter eggs and celebrating Jesus!  Here are a few pictures:

This is seriously hilarious!  The kids made these at MOPS and loved them!

So adorable!  Love dressing the kids up while they still let me. :)

What a bunch of cutie pies!

We decorated cupcakes with Peeps.  So cute and yummy!

Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

Funny Girl

Anne is so funny!  I happened to check on her and this is what I found.  Pretty comfortable way to watch TV, huh?

"Slurp".....A Family Tradition

I have so many fond memories of "slurp".  My Granny Tiger made it, my Mom made it, and now I make it.  "Slurp" is the best homemade strawberry freezer jelly on the planet!  Okay, at least it's my favorite and my kids favorite. :)  It is so easy and fun to make and generally I can make whip up 4 batches of this in an evening and have enough "slurp" to last me for a year.  Everytime I make this so many memories flood back into my head of when I was a kid.  We eat this on toast, sandwiches, over pancakes, on ice cream..........the possibilities are endless!  Hopefully I can pass this tradition on to my kiddo's.  "Slurp"................what a fun and delicious tradition!

Karate

Tonight was an exciting night for Stuart and John.  They got their orange belts!!  Hooray!

John receiving his orange belt.

Stuart and John and their official certificate.

Stuart getting his orange belt.

It's a Girl!

Usually when you find out whether you are having a boy or a girl, it is a joyous occassion.  Clothes are bought, names are thought of, and thoughts of the future are exciting and hopeful. 

Today we found out that we were having a little girl.  The baby that lived inside me for 15 1/2 weeks was a sweet little girl.  Except, there was no celebration, no clothes were bought, and the only thoughts about the future were "what could have been".  I cried today, wept today, and longed for the daughter that I will never know.................until I get to heaven.  I know she will be waiting for me there.  Maybe she'll have pigtails, maybe she'll look like Anne, maybe she'll be funny like John, maybe she'll be as tender as Stuart............that's what I'm looking forward to.  Looking forward to meeting my 3 kids in heaven some day, getting to hold them like I do my 3 precious kiddo's here on earth. 

Today I'm trusting in God.  Today I'm putting my faith in God that He works for good.  Today I'm choosing to be thankful.  Today I'm choosing to thank God for my blessings.  Today I am choosing to be in His presence.  Today I'm choosing to trust in His plan.

"I have a wonderful plan for your life.  But you may not always understand that plan.  Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: even through pain and trouble.  I use tough times to teach you more about Me.  I can use trouble at home to help you find peace and comfort in Me.  I can use a disappointment to teach you that there is joy in My Presence.  You won't always understand, but you can learn to trust that I am always good."  (an excerpt from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young).

Sewing

Lately I have been "trying" to sew and I do mean "trying".  Sewing has not been one of my talents, but I am working on it.  Anne currently wears only skirts or dresses so I thought I would try a very simple skirt.  It was so much easier than I thought that I decided to make her a little top to go with it.  Don't look too closely at it, because there are a ton of errors.  All in all, I thought it turned out pretty well for my first attempt at sewing clothing.  A big bonus is that it is Anne's new favorite outfit!! :)  Happy sewing!